Research & Teaching Interests

Research Interests

Our research program is centered on the role of non-coding RNAs (in particular microRNAs) in genetic, microbial, dietary, and environmental control of metabolic health and disease. The primary disease areas of focus are diabetes, dyslipidemia, Crohn's disease, and most recently, liver/gastrointestinal cancer (e.g., fibrolamellar carcinoma).

Our laboratory research paradigm is highly interdisciplinary, at the interface of computational and experimental biology. I am committed to cultivating an ethos of collegiality and strong mentorship. We are always on the lookout for motivated trainees and staff scientists with interests in one or more of several diverse areas of study, including functional genomics, gene regulation, non-coding RNAs, bioinformatics, human genetics, mouse models of disease, GI biology, and metabolic disease. We are indebted to our collaborators, colleagues, and funding sources, without whom we could not efficiently tackle what we believe are incredibly interesting and important problems in biomedicine.

Active research areas in the lab include:

The contribution of non-coding RNA networks to gene expression dynamics

Contribution of microRNAs and lncRNAs to stem cell maintenance and function in the liver and intestine

Teaching and Mentoring

Teaching and mentoring are my first passions. I am deeply committed to developing a strong, robust didactic and practical learning atmosphere for students in the classroom and trainees in the laboratory. My love for teaching took hold when I was an undergraduate at Cornell University, during which time I served for several years as either a teaching assistant or a course consultant, and it has intensified over the years because I believe that: (1) the ability to teach/articulate a concept effectively is the sign of when one has truly learned it well; (2) enthusiastic students at the best universities like Cornell should have direct access to their professors in order to nurture their creative spirit and sharpen their intellect at an early stage of their career; and (3) the overall scientific enterprise is strengthened when we take the time to invest in the next generation of scholars.

I am firmly committed to serving as a research mentor for undergraduate and graduate students, and I am particularly passionate about helping students grow not only as scientists, but also as artful and articulate communicators of their scientific work. Exchange of research ideas and goals, both with scientific and lay audiences, is extremely important and I have deeply enjoyed the opportunity to help train students improve their skills in this area. The most rewarding moments of my career so far have come in those times when I realize how much my students have grown not only as critical thinkers but also as effective communicators.

Education

PhD, Genomics, University of Pennsylvania

BA, Cornell University

Biography/Professional Experience

Praveen is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Cornell University. He received his BA degree from Cornell University and his PhD in Genomics from the University of Pennsylvania. After completing a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Human Genome Research Institute under the mentorship of Dr. Francis Collins, he moved in 2011 to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics. In 2017, he returned to Cornell University as an Associate Professor. Praveen has authored over 70 publications, and has served as a reviewer for over 30 different journals. Recent honors include a faculty merit award for outstanding teaching and mentoring. Praveen’s laboratory is located in the newly renovated Research Tower on Tower Road. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his wife and three children.